Reyna Tropical - “Conocerla"

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Jackie Mendoza, Bomba Estereo, Sofi Tukker

Five years into their career, Reyna Tropical is finally readying her debut full-length Malegria due at the end of March. By the sounds of early singles “Cartagena” and “Conocerla”, she’s progressed her unique blend of psych pop, Latin rhythms, and R&B melodies into an airy, melodic blend. Hypnotic guitar lines and sunny drums run in tandem, produced with warmth and comfort in the same way a chillwave artist would create. While Reyna Tropical is playing with fusion intentions, the end result sounds easy and natural. Waiting five years until her first LP sounds like the right call in retrospect and lookout for Malegria to be a lauded record if the rest of the album is as strong as these two highlight singles. (Kevin McStravick) 

2019 Review: Psychedelic tropicalia and modern electronic dance pop merge in Reyna Tropical’s sound, but the LA duo twist the genres through minimalist constructions rank with sonic creativity. Hip hop, blues-influenced riffs and experimental pop forms also find their way into Reyna Tropical’s tracks, often creating a hypnotic air across guitar, vocal and electronic melodies criss-crossing in harmony.